Cowan announces retirement from professional cricket

Ed Cowan, the New South Wales and Australian opener, called time on his 15-year first-class career on Wednesday (March 7). The veteran opener will not represent New South Wales in their final 2017-18 Sheffield Shield game against Queensland next week. The left-handed batsman, however, will continue to partake in club cricket with Sydney University.

"It's been a wonderful journey and I'm grateful for all those who contributed along the way," Cowan said. "I'll always cherish the great memories and friendships that the game has afforded me. I feel incredibly lucky to have played around the world with so many great people over such a long period of time.

"I'm indebted to NSW Cricket, which invested a lot of time, money and energy in me from a young age. It's equally as important to recognise everyone at Cricket Tasmania, who were hugely formative in my career. I have loved the game from my earliest days and feel incredibly lucky to still do so. At this stage I will continue to play Premier Cricket with Sydney University for the remainder of this season and beyond as we aim for successive titles," he added.

The veteran opener, who made his Test debut versus India at the MCG in 2011, amassed 1001 runs at 31.28 in 18 Tests. He cracked six fifties and one hundred in his short Test career. His highest individual Test score of 136 came against South Africa at the Gabba in 2012.

Cowan played his maiden first-class game way back in 2003 for Oxford UCCE versus Middlesex. In what turned out to be an illustrious first-class career, he went on to represent Gloucestershire, New South Wales, Nottinghamshire and Tasmania, compiling 10097 at an impressive average of 41.89. Cowan composed his highest first class score of 225 for Tasmania versus South Africa during the 2009 season. He also accumulated 2984 runs at an average of just over 36 in List A matches.

Cowan was the leading run-getter for the 2016-17 Sheffield Shield season, scoring 959 runs at a healthy average of 73.76. He also accrued 336 runs during the ongoing Sheffield Shield season. However, he was controversially dropped for the NSW opening first-class encounter of the 2017-18 season, with the promising Daniel Hughes replacing him. At that time, Steve Smith, the Australian captain, had revealed that Cowan was dropped as they wanted to give Hughes a chance to stake his claim for the Ashes.

"Ed has made a great contribution to Australian cricket over the course of his career, at an international and domestic level, and we congratulate him on his achievements," Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland said.

"Best remembered as a patient and considered opening batsman, the numbers accumulated by Ed during his career reveal the rewards of his perseverance and underscore the reason he is held in high regard by those who he has played with and against.

"We wish Ed all the best in his retirement from cricket and for his future endeavours," he added.

Outside cricket, Cowan has a masters degree in applied finance and worked as an analyst for an investment bank.